Content
- My cat doesn't want to eat: routine, depression and stress
- my cat doesn't want to eat
- My cat does not want to eat and is sad: causes by external factors
- Changes in territory
- Diet changes
- trauma or shock
- Loneliness, boredom, boredom, separation anxiety
- Intoxication or poisoning
- high temperatures
- My cat doesn't want to eat and is sad: causes by internal factors
- Foreign body ingestion
- fur balls
- External and/or internal parasites
- old cat
- pain or fever
- My cat does not want to eat and is sad: what to do?
- My cat does not want to eat and is sad: how to encourage him to eat
Cats are animals of habit and don't like new things, so don't be surprised that a change in one of their routines can cause them to stop eating and drinking. The simple change of the feeder location, the introduction or loss of a family member or an illness can lead to a sad, listless and appetiteless cat.
If you say “my cat doesn't want to eat or drink water” or that you are sadder, you should not postpone going to the vet, as it could be a serious situation. If you want to know why your cat doesn't want to eat and is sad and what steps you can take to solve this problem, continue reading this PeritoAnimal article.
My cat doesn't want to eat: routine, depression and stress
First of all, it's important that you know your cat's personality and tastes so you know which situations are normal and which aren't. You may be wondering, but yes it's true, cats can also have emotional problems, get stressed, sad and even depression. It is common in certain situations for the tutor to question: “my cat doesn't eat and just lies down, should I worry?”. The answer is very simple, any change in the animal's appetite and behavior should be a cause for concern.
Stress and depression are two conditions that affect not only mental health but also physical health., causing:
- Inactivity;
- Excessive sleep hours;
- Lack of appetite;
- Decreased interaction with tutors and other animals;
- Loss of interest in toys or treats;
- Behavioral changes (more scared, runaways or increased vocalization).
The veterinarian is the only person capable of diagnosing and helping in these cases.
Another common issue is when the tutor says “I adopted a cat and he doesn't want to eat”. The animal may not eat due to the stress it is going through. No matter how comfortable and suitable the new environment is, the organism has to get used to all the novelties (new house, new guardians, new odors, new food, etc.) and this can be very stressful for the animal.
When dealing with a kitten or young kitten, separation from the mother and/or siblings or the transition from milk to feed is difficult and the kitten may not want to eat for the first few days. In any case, it is important that the cat does not go more than 48h (two days) without eating and for kittens this is even more crucial because of their still debilitated organism.
my cat doesn't want to eat
As we have seen, stress and depression are some examples of conditions that can lead to a decrease or loss of appetite in cats, but there are many other factors (external and internal) that can also lead to this.
When a cat stops eating or eats less than usual it is almost always indicative that something is not right, which can be something more or less serious. Although the phrase “my cat has not eaten for 3 days or more” is very common in clinical practice, it is important that the cat does not go without food for more than two days. The organs of this animal (especially the liver) are very sensitive to lack of food and can cause serious long-term consequences.
There is a liver disorder, the hepatic lipidosis, which appears in obese cats and in cats with prolonged fasting of more than 48 hours. In this process, there is an excess of fat deposition in the liver, which becomes overloaded and unable to carry out its normal functions. The main symptoms of this disorder are:
- Vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Salivation;
- Depression;
- Anorexia;
- Yellow mucous (jaundice);
- Anemia.
For these reasons, loss of appetite in cats is a problem that should not be ignored.
My cat does not want to eat and is sad: causes by external factors
The causes of a cat with no appetite due to external factors (caused by something in the animal's environment) are:
Changes in territory
Changing the position of furniture, the location of the litter box, the feeder, as well as travel, parties, death or the introduction of a new family member (whether animal or human) is a stress factor and many cats react badly to these changes by stopping eating and drinking. If the simple move of a piece of furniture to a new location causes an animal's displeasure, imagine the presence of an unknown animal or human being. In these situations, there are feline pheromone diffusers and sprays that can help relieve stress or gradually introduce changes with habituation training.
Diet changes
Cats are known to be very demanding in their food and the introduction of a new feed can lead to the so-called food neophobia, which is characterized by the complete refusal of the new food. Thus, it is not a good idea to make sudden transitions in the animal's diet, as it can cause gastrointestinal problems.
Changes should only be made in cases that are necessary, such as growth (weaning and transition to adulthood) or in the case of diseases that require specific diets. In addition, any dietary transition must always be made for at least seven days:
- 1st and 2nd day: put a higher percentage of the current/old ration (75%) with a little of the new (25%);
- 3rd and 4th day: equal amount of both rations (50-50%);
- 5th and 6th day: smaller quantity of the old (25%) and greater of the new (75%);
- 7th day: only the new ration (100%).
trauma or shock
A trauma or fright can cause such a level of stress that the animal may refuse to eat or even defecate for a few days.
Loneliness, boredom, boredom, separation anxiety
Although cats are thought to be independent animals and do not need human companionship, this statement is not exactly true. Cats are social beings and natural hunters, enjoying being entertained and interacting with various stimuli throughout the day with toys, interactive food instruments, other animals and tutors.
The lack of social, environmental and cognitive stimuli can lead the cat to develop boredom and boredom, which can later turn into depression and abnormal behavior.
Intoxication or poisoning
There are many chemicals, drugs and plants that are extremely dangerous to cats because of their toxicity. It is important that you know which plants are toxic and food prohibited for cats.
high temperatures
The hottest days make the animal easier and make it sleep longer, move a little and don't have so much desire to eat. It's very important that you keep the hydration of the animal and provide multiple sources of waterfresh at different points in the house.
Dehydration can also cause the cat not to eat, which can be a situation where you think: "my cat doesn't eat and just lies down” or “my cat doesn't eat only drinks water”. Precisely because of the excessive heat they tend to move less and not eat. Try to place it in a cool, sheltered place during the hottest hours and days.
My cat doesn't want to eat and is sad: causes by internal factors
The causes of a cat with no appetite by internal factors (in the animal's own organism), they are:
Foreign body ingestion
As we know, cats are very playful animals and they love a good yarn or ball to play with. However, linear bodies such as electrical or tissue wires or sharp objects are very dangerous when the animal ingests them, since they irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa and can cause twisting or perforation of the organs, representing a risk of death.
fur balls
The named trichobezoars, form due to ingestion and accumulation of dead and loose hair in the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually eliminated in the stool, but there are some times that can cause problems, such as vomiting hair, coughing, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal obstructions. A good way to prevent and treat this problem is by brushing the animal's fur, administering malt and specific herbs for hairballs.
External and/or internal parasites
They can weaken the animal's organism and even cause obstructions or tamponades in the gastrointestinal tract. It is extremely important to follow the deworming plan
old cat
With advancing age come the problems of loss of teeth, loss of smell and hearing. Many of these problems can diminish the animal's appetite or the ability to press food.
pain or fever
Pain is undoubtedly a condition of the animals' appetite. An animal in pain will not be able to follow a normal routine and may even stop eating. Cases like "my cat is weak and doesn't want to eat" and "my cat doesn't want to eat and is vomiting” are even more worrying as they are indicative of disease. Loss of appetite can often be the initial clinical sign of an underlying disease, however, other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, fever, and weight loss are also observed conditions that require medical follow-up and treatment.
My cat does not want to eat and is sad: what to do?
To know what to do in cases of cats without appetite, check out:
- The first step is to rule out possible illnesses and infections.
- Respect the veterinarian's advice.
- Playing with it before eating, physical exercise stimulates the appetite.
- In cases of fur balls, or as a prevention (especially in long-haired cats), administer the malt paste to help eliminate the fur balls.
- Many cats only eat in the presence of the tutor, so pay attention while he eats and observe the behavior.
- Large feeders are more advisable than small ones, as cats prefer to eat without touching their whiskers (vibrissae) to the edges, so they often leave the bowl empty in the center, but with grains on the periphery.
- Reward him for eating, making sure you only reward him at the end of the meal.
My cat does not want to eat and is sad: how to encourage him to eat
As carnivorous animals that they are, cats have a very refined sense of smell, giving more importance to the aroma than to the taste of food. For this reason you should try to stimulate the cat's appetite through smell or interest, for example:
- Add moist food to the ration;
- Provide cooked chicken or fish mixed with the feed or isolated (without condiments);
- Heat moist food, this will increase the aroma of the food, drawing more attention from the cat;
- Moisten the dry food with a little warm water;
- Do not give treats or snacks so that he doesn't think he has alternative food if he doesn't eat the main food;
- Leaving food available reduces the desire to eat, try making meals.
In cases where “my cat doesn't want to eat dry food” and you've already tried everything described above, try changing your diet to an equally balanced and complete one, never forgetting to make the transition recommended by the veterinarian.
Check out our YouTube video about the 7 fruits that cats can eat, the quantities and the benefits:
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